June 8 education rally wins growing list of sponsors

Source:
NYSUT Media Relations

ALBANY, N.Y. May 23, 2013 - A growing list of community, education and religious organizations have signed on as co-sponsors for the One Voice United rally, which will bring thousands of New Yorkers to Albany on June 8 to enlist in the fight for the future of public education.

Joining the 600,000-member New York State United Teachers in co-sponsoring the rally are the New York State AFL-CIO and a host of allied organizations, including: Class Size Matters; New York State NAACP; Alliance for Quality Education; Citizen Action; New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness; New York State Labor-Religion Coalition; Strong Economy for All; Students Rising; Occupy Albany; New York Immigration Coalition; First Israel AME Church; BALCONY; Educate NY Now; SUNY Student Assembly and Save Our SUNY.

The rally begins at noon at the Empire State Plaza in Albany.

"Thousands of New Yorkers will be speaking with one voice, sending a clear message to our elected leaders, the Board of Regents and state education commissioner that education is about learning, not testing, and that New York should be investing more in the future of its students," said NYSUT President Richard C. Iannuzzi.

Members of the more than one dozen organizations will join other parents, teachers and educators in speaking out against the state's over-emphasis on standardized testing and misuse of test data to improperly label students and teachers. Rally-goers will call for a moratorium on the use of standardized tests in high-stakes decisions for students and teachers until the State Education Department and Regents properly implement the state's new Common Core learning standards.

The rally’s focus, however, will extend far beyond the explosive growth of standardized testing. Supporters will also demand fair and equitable funding of schools, as well as greater local control of schools by fixing the tax cap, including restoring the democratic principle of majority rule. Supporters will also demand a greater investment in public higher education, enactment of the DREAM Act and legislation to help ensure a safe, secure learning environment for every student.

NYSUT, the state’s largest union, represents more than 600,000 teachers, school-related professionals, academic and professional faculty in higher education, professionals in education and health care and retirees. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.